Fabric treatment



a mmm P. M COLE FABRIC TREATMENT Filed. May 27, 1954 INVENTOR PAUL M.COLE BY y fl k ATTORNEY United States Pate l a 5 Claims. (Cl. 8-152)This invention relates to treatment of textile fabric, particularlyplacement of fabric onto a rotary carrier and subsequent removaltherefrom. 1

Supporting of fabric in open width is conductive to .satisfactoryuniformity of dyeing and finishing, but economy in such textileoperations is dependent upon efiicacious treatment of considerablequantities of fabric. Cole patent aplication Serial No. 347,263, filedApril 7, 1953,

describes such treatment upon rotary carriers that support the fabricsubstantially tension-free and advance it in a star-like pattern. Thementioned patent application illustrates the hitherto normal loadingmethod for such ,a carrier, which may be termed parallel loading; in

that method, each of a plurality of lengths of fabric makes a completewrap around the rotor (forming the star pattern, as viewed along theaxis of the rotor). The

carrier has supporting bars spaced in an outer circle for ,the fabric topass over and similar supporting bars spaced .in an inner circle for thefabric to pass under; the fabric normally passes over an outer bar,under an inner bar, over the next outer bar, and so on around thecarrier,

assuming the Zigzag configuration of the arms of a star. To facilitateloading and unloading, the inner bars customarily are removable, beinginserted in slotted guides extending from the periphery of the. carrier.

While the length of a complete wrap may'be made less than the maximumfor any particular carrier of this type by omitting or by-passing someof the bars, unavoidable variation in the lengths of pieces of fabric tobe loaded complicates the procedure: pieces too long for a single wrapmust be cut, and pieces too short must be furnished with a leader tocomplete the wrap. Conventional weaving operations are not adapted toclose control on the length of fabric produced thereby.

A primary object of the present invention is replacement of parallelloading of a rotary dyeing or finishing machine by series loading.Another object is preforming of fabric in a holdup system into acontinuous multilayered loop having the desired length of a single wrapfor a rotary carrier and gradual withdrawal of the loop of fabrictherefrom during loading of the carrier. An

object is placement of a length of fabric longer than a single wrap ontoa rotary carrier in star-shaped pattern without necessity for cutting orpiecing of the fabric irrespective of the excess in length. Otherobjects of this invention will be apparent from the followingdescription and the accompanying diagrams.

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of removal of fabric from a source ofsupply onto a wrap-length holdup systern. Figure 2 is a similar view ofholdup means and a rotary carrier at an early stage in the loading ofthe fabric of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2but showing the loading nearly completed.

In general, the objects of the present invention are accomplished byunwinding fabric from a supply source onto a holdup system, in which thelength of one complete turn is equivalent to the length of one wrapabout a rotary carrier, superimposing in a continuous spiral in which itaccumulates in folds.

asserts Patented Mar. 11,1958

successive wrap-length layers of fabric in substantially non-slippingcontact with one another until the supply is discontinued; a loop of themultiple-layered wrap so formed is slipped bodily over the end of arotary carrier and onto fabric-supporting members thereof, whereupon therest of the fabric is fed gradually from the holdup system onto thecarrier until all the fabric leaves the holdup system and rests as astar-shaped wrap about the carrier. Here terms referring to theconfiguration of a star comprehend not only the familiar fiveandsixpointed star patterns consisting, respectively, of ten and twelvestraight zigzag lines or arms (connecting points located alternately ona circle inscribed in the star and a circle circumscribing the star) butalso multipointed figures generally that present a closed zigzaggingpattern about a central point, regardless of moderate curvature orlength inequality of the various arms and any skewing of the patternabout the center, as often may be desirable. The invention isillustrated with particular refer ence to a rotary carrier havingslotted guides to receive removable inner bars from locations at theperiphery of the carrier (between the outer bars with which the innerbars cooperate in supporting a wrap of fabric in the configuration of astar).

As used here, holdup signifies temporary storage of all or part of afabric load for the carrier. While a holdup system could be designed tocarry the fabric ex tended at wrap length, such an arrangement would beunnecessarily voluminous; it is convenient for the system to provide aconcentrated storage section where a considerable amount of fabric maybe confined to a small volume. Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment inwhich fabric 1 (represented by a solid line) from supply beam or mandrel2 passes over bar 3, about roll 4,

through tacking means 5, about expander roll 6, under bar 7, also underbow bar 8, about removable roll 9, in

contact with feed roll it through the nip of plaiter drive roll 11 andremovable idler roll 12, and onto scray 13, From the scray the fabricpasses about bar 14, over expander roll 15 and into contact with thebody of the fabric under bar 7. An alternative path (1) appears indashed lines at the right, where the fabric passes in folds into truck16, with the plaiter similarly shown.

The sequence of steps by which the fabric is preformed into amultiple-layer of wrap length, as shown in Figure l, is comparativelysimple. At the beginning of the operation, the end of the fabric fromthe supply mandrel is fed through the system manually; as soon as thelength required for a complete Wrap on the treating rotor has beenunwound, the end of the fabric is secured or tacked to the body of thefabric to form a loop of that length, whereupon the drive rolls feed thefabric repeatedly about the circuit until the entire load of fabric isunwound.

It is desirable to ensure substantially non-slipping contact betweenadjacent layers of the fabric in order to maintain each layer in theloop at the desired length, both in the holdup system and later on thecarrier. Sewing or stapling at the ends and wetting of the interveningfabric (or intermittent fastening of the multiple selvages) sufiices tomaintain all the layers of fabric at wrap length. The operator in chargeof the preforming operation usually performs the fastening of the endsmanually, but the tacking means may include one or more machines toaccomplish this besides comprising a dip tank or other means for tackingtogether the layers in the resulting loop. The film of water placedbetween adjacent layers of fabric on its passage through ordinaryWetting means normally is highly effective in holding them together, andsewing or other fastening at the selvages or across the body of thefabric is unnecessary.

fluid treatment of the fabric may begin.

gamers the last wrap-length portion of fabric unwinds from the supply.source it isconvenient for theoperator to move the plaiter rolls fromthe original position over the scray to the alternative position shownin Figure 1 (by dotted lines) andto'set the rolls swinging in'the'arcindicated by a double arrow, was to 'plait-.or j'foldthe fabric into thetruck. Of course,'to permit this-he frees the bars and rolls encircledby :.the loop of fabric, including finally rolls 9 and 12 if the plaiteris notto'be used in the step of loading the fabric on the carrier. Thus,the entire wrap-length loop may be stored temporarily in'the truck andmoved abouttherein-if desired.

Accessto' the end of therotary carrier uponwhich-"the fabric'is to beloaded 'andtreated may be facilitatedby cantilevering orcounter-weighting it sufliciently to free one 'endfrom any furtherexternal support. '01 this may be provided in any number 'of waysbymeansof'a removable external -support 'at that end,as-is"readily"apparent. When a removable support is used, there shouldbe -'su'fiicient space between it and the 'end ofthe'rotor topermit'convenient location of the'fa'bric next'to'the 'end'beforereplacement and during operation ofthe'supto locations "near the 'axisto hold the inner fabricsupportitlg bars.

The carrier, which appears in section perpendicular to axle 35,comprises flange 33 (an opposingflange, 'mirror image. of 33, is notvisible in this sectional view) with outer bars 32 in place, while'bars34are being .ifed "from track 37 above into guide slots '36. Each guideslot is furnished with a pin or other means '(not'sh'own) to confine theend of a bar at the innermost 'endithereof so as to constitute an innersupport for'the fabric. Truck 26, which maybe the same as truck I6.ofF-igure 1 (appearing turned end-for-end), is juxtaposed to thecarrier. Multiple wrap 31 .offabric rests mainly in the truck, butenoughhas been removed to surround the carrier and elements of thefeeding or winding means. Plaiter rolls 21 and 22, which are notrequired in the step of "loading the .fabric ontothe rotary carrierappear to one side above'the truck. In the path of the fabricrepresented by the solid .line are roll 23 centered above the truck andidler roll 19 anddrive roll .20, which .is driven .by; external means(not shown). Rack 37 carries .a supply of bars 34 above and to .the

.mechanically. The operator also ensures :that eachinner bar is heldsecurely at the innermost end of .itszslot'to prevent it .from fallingout at the lower half-cycle of carrier rotation.

As successive inner bars fall into-.place, .the amounttof fabricinthetruck lessens, and near the end of the loading periodthetermina'lportion of the'fabric loop is freed by removal or swingingaside of iron 19 and roll 23. Thisinstantis represented in Figure '3.The rest of the :fabric is just long enough to be taken upon the rotarycarrier by insertion of the'last inner bars, whereupon Ofcourse, as inpressure dyeing, the treatment may require placementof the carrier in asuitable housing. "Inthe absence of thetruck theloading couldproceeddirectly "from-the ployed -to practice the described loading .of.the wraplength loop of fabric.

Unloading of the fabric is substantially the reverse of loading and maybe visualized readily without the aid of further diagrams. Manualremoval of a couple of the inner bars from the carrier permitsreplacement of part of the fabric loop onto feeding means of the holdupsystem, after which the bars removedin Figure 3 and the plaiter. rollsare placed in the fabric path (including the dashed-linealternative) and.the drive rolls set erotating in the opposite direction-.from before.During; this step the fabric itself is tensioned sufficiently by thewinding to lift the inner'bars, which are'released by the operator fromtheir positions :near the axis immediately beforehand to permit theirremoval. The fabric is plaited or folded into the truck by the swingingplaiter rolls. When all but one of the inner bars are returned to thesupply rack, the 'situation'reverts to that shown in Figure '2(including the dashed-line alternative path) except 'that all thedirections of travel are reversed. After removal of the-last inner bar,the fabric is slippedoft the end of-the carrieryand-all'the excessplaced in'the truck. The outer end of the fabric is freed from theother'layers and is-fastened to a windup roll onto which the entirefabric then is rewound. 'thread'has been-usedfor tackingthe ends orintermediate portions 'of thefabric, the winding force will break it*easily'and the remaining bits of thread may be brushed -If asufliciently light-weight 'oif,or"a cutter may be'usedbetween'the'separatinglayers "of fabric to -parrthe thread. Otherfasteners may be removed by the operator.

Themethodfof loading and unloading here described Two or more similar upsystem and related elements need not be located near- Ibythroughout-t'heoperations but may be moved about,

as may'be convenient, except during the brief period of transfer of.fabric to or from the carrier itself, which'is shorter with themultiple layered or series-wound wrap than with the separate lengths offabric used in the previous parallel method. According to thisinvention,

economical utilization ofthe carrier is increased'further and bothfabric waste and excessive labor formerly incurredin 'cuttingandpiecingof thelengths offabricare eliminated. Many other advantages of thepractice of 'thisinvention will come readily to mind.

What is claimed: 1. In theprocess offloading fabric onto 'a rotary ,car

"i'ieradapted .to support .a wrap .of fabric in .the. pattern ofa star,as viewed along the axis of the carrier, the improvement comprisingfirst preforming the entirefabric load into a continuous 'multilayeredloop having the'desired length of a complete star-like wrap about thecarrier,'then slipping theloop about'the carrier by passing it over theend thereof and subsequently supporting it thereon in -a zigezagstar-likepattern.

2. The process improvement of claim .1 in which the preformed loopoffabricis withdrawn gradually from .a nearby holdup system onto thecarrier duringthe step of supportingithe. fabricithereon in :the .starpattern.

.3. Process 'of loading-an endless loop of fabriconto zarrotary :carrieradapted to support .the fabric :about outer and inner bars inthe patternof a star, as viewed along :the axis-of the carrier, comprising slippinga portion-of the loop over'zthe'endof the carrier to rest upon'theouter-'supportin'g bars thereof and then inserting inner "bars successivelyin the carrier to festoon the fabric between adjacent outer -bars andthereby withdraw the "rest of theloop "gradually from ,a'nearby holdupsystem until all the bars are in place and the complete loop of fabricis removed from the holdup system and supported as a star-shaped wrapupon the carrier.

4. Process of loading fabric onto a rotary carn'er adapted to supportfabric about outer and inner bars successively in the pattern of a star,as viewed along the axis of the carrier, comprising unwinding fabricfrom a supply source, passing the end of the fabric through a holdupsystem until the length of fabric therein equals the desired length ofone Wrap about the carrier, fastening the end to the fabric body to makean endless loop of that length, passing the loop of fabricunidirectionally through the holdup system and tacking the fabric newlyunwound from the source to the fabric in the loop until the desiredtotal quantity of fabric has accumulated as multiple layers in the loop,passing a portion of the loop over the end of the rotary carrier to restin open width upon the outer supporting bars thereof, inserting innerbars successively in the carrier to festoon the fabric between the outerbars at the expense of the fabric content in the holdup system,whereupon with insertion of all the inner bars in the carrier no morefabric remains in the holdup system and the multilayered loop of fabricforms a complete star-shaped wrap upon the carrier.

5. In combination with a rotary carrier adapted to support a wrap offabric in a zig-zag star-shaped pattern, as viewed along the carrieraxis, holdup means for preforming fabric into a single endlesswrap-length multilayer loop and feeding means for transferring thefabric between the holdup means and the carrier and forming a zig-zagstar-shaped pattern on the carrier.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS BrookMay 19, 1914

1. IN THE PROCESS OF LOADING FABRIC ONTO A ROTARY CARRIER ADAPTED TOSUPPORT A WRAP OF FABRIC IN THE PATTERN OF A STAR, AS VIEWED ALONG THEAXIS OF THE CARRIER, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING FIRST PREFORMING THEENTIRE FABRIC LOADED INTO A CONTINUOUS MULTILAYERED LOOP HAVING THEDESIRED LENTH OF A COMPLETE STAR-LIKE WRAP ABOUT THE CARRIER, THENSLIPPING THE LOOP ABOUT THE CARRIER BY PASSING IT OVER THE END THEREOFAND SUBSEQUENTLY SUPPORTING IT THEREON IN A ZIG-ZAG STAR-LIKE PATTERN.5. IN COMBINATION WITH A ROTARY CARRIER ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A WAP OFFABRIC IN A ZIG-ZAG STAR-SHAPED PATTERN AS VIEWED ALONG THE CARRIERAXIS, HOLDUP MEANS FOR PREFORMING FABRIC INTO A SINGLE ENDLESSWRAP-LENGTH MULTILAYER LOOP AND FEEDING MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING THEFABRIC BETWEEN THE HOLDUP MEANS AND THE CARRIER AND FORMING A ZIG-ZAGSTAR-SHAPED PATTERN ON THE CARRIER.